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121 Responses to “Looking Fine”

Congrats! Every time I see “Leave a comment,” the song from Zorba the Greek starts playin’ in my computer’s brain, and it hesitates and jiggles and wiggles and puts its little hands up in the air and then finally allows me to leave a comment. #SickOfIt But enjoy the song!

I had just posted a long and winding comment on the previous thread. I better move it to this one 🙂

Here it is:

Hi TODers,

I just had to vent today. Up until now I have faithfully DVR’d The Late Show with David Letterman. Dave always seemed to have his heart in the right place and WAS a strong supporter of the President. However, I noticed that, ever since President Obama chose not to drop bombs on Syria or send in Seal Team Six to eliminate Bashar Al-Asaad, Dave has been rather hostile. He’s been making snide remarks about the ACA and now, the other night he and Tom Brokaw were promoting the “Putin is emboldened because… Syria” meme, with Brokaw calling our President’s masterful handling of the Syria crises “not his finest moment”

This frustrates me to no end. So… the President should have taken out Asaad just to show the world some nonsense about red lines? And then what? There are some pretty scary characters fighting Asaad; so then how do we prevent them from using the chemical weapons? So, we would have had to invade and occupy. Do these idiots even remember Iraq? They are SUPPOSED to be liberals, right?

I remember listening to the President’s speech about going to Congress for approval live on my car radio and I exclaimed to myself, “Masterful!” That’s how I found you wonderful folks here. I was so frustrated with the media memes at that time. I was so delighted that day to click on TOD and find the post titled “Masterful!” as if you all had read my mind 🙂

And anyone who thinks the whole negotiation to destroy the chemical weapons was Putin’s idea is so naive I can’t believe it.

Anyway, I have stopped recording Dave. I wish Mr. Brokaw a full and speedy recovery from Multiple Myeloma (my Dad died from that disease), but I won’t listen to another word he says about anything political.

Thank God, we have President Obama and Sec of State Kerry right now. Jan 2017 I’m moving to Italy!

“The large network consisting of pro-Russian authors and institutions is a hard/extreme right breeding-ground of all kinds of conspiracy theories, Euroscepticism, racism and anti-democratic theories. Today, this is also one of the main sources of the articles, op-eds and statements that are one way or another trying to discredit the Euromaidan protests by associating them either with neo-Nazism or with the alleged US expansionism. The rhetoric of these authors fully conforms to the remarks made by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov who has recently slammed Western support for Euromaidan and declared: “What does incitement of increasingly violent street protests have to do with promoting democracy? Why don’t we hear condemnations of those who seize and hold government buildings, burn, torch the police, use racist and anti-Semitic and Nazi slogans?”.

Here is a list of selected publications that this Eurasianist Kremlin-inspired network has produced so far:

Eric Draitser, “Ukraine and the Rebirth of Fascism in Europe”
Neil Clark, “When is the far-right acceptable to the West? When it’s in Ukraine”
Mark Almond, “Ukrainian Opposition and the West ‘Playing with Fire Siding With Extreme Nationalists'”
John Laughland, “Radicals in Riots? ‘Euromaidan Failed to Separate From Neo-Nazis'”
Natalya Narochnitskaya on Euromaidan’ radical nationalism
William Engdahl, “The Belgrade US-Financed Training Group Behind the Carefully-Orchestrated Kiev Protests”, “US, EU meddling in Ukraine battle”

I don’t know if Alec Luhn writing for The Nation or Seumas Milne writing for The Guardian are part of this pro-Eurasianist network. Despite the fact that their message is similar to that of the many articles produced by the pro-Eurasianist authors, they may simply not know what they are writing about. But those people, who have been associated with the British Helsinki Human Rights Group, Ron Paul Institute for Peace and Prosperity, Institute of Democracy and Cooperation, Centre for Research on Globalization, International Eurasian Movement and – I presume – many other similar institutions, which are yet to be revealed, are obviously ideologically driven anti-democratic activists engaged in the anti-Ukrainian and, eventually, anti-European subversive operations.”

Thanks Bob – the anti democratic movements always give themselves a democratic name – which to me indicates they KNOW that most people want to live in a democracy – they have to pretend that is what they are.

Best examples – Ron Paul Institute for Peace and Prosperity, Institute of Democracy and Cooperation

Ukraine’s military is a small fraction of the size of Russia’s, VC. However, they are fierce warriors and they’ve got NATO on their side. That said, the shooting starts and, like all wars, the outcome is far from predictable made worse by the fact that Russia is a nuclear state.

The situation, at the moment, could not be more precipitously dangerous.

I thought I read somewhere recently that Russia’s army had deteriorated, so that got my hopes up a bit. And yes, I know Russia is nu-kelar (a la Dumbo), but I don’t want to believe that would be a consideration for Putin at this point. After all, he’s very concerned/protective of the Russian speakers in Ukraine, isn’t he? 🙄

VC, Russia’s army would be no match for NATO, let alone just the US. And, yes, their gear sucks and their morale is low. But, they are significantly larger than Ukraine’s military.

The core problem, however, is that the moment war happens, the consequences become unconstrained and unpredictable. That’s bad enough when two or more nations have only conventional weapons.

How far Putin will go as he is getting his ass kicked in Ukraine is a gigantic unknown. He will, btw, get his ass kicked because he will be receiving daily shipments of caskets and his citizenry, who have already informed him that they do not want war with Ukraine or anyone else, will start freaking out way worse than they did during the Afghan & Georgia fiascos. On top of that, the folk in Kazakhstan have already informed him that they consider his actions in Crimea, Ukraine intolerable. They won’t play nice if he starts killing Crimean Tatars.

Most importantly –> Ukrainians are NOT going back.

He’s created a profoundly dangerous situation. Either he pulls back before the shooting starts or ……. no one on the planet has any ability to predict outcome.

Thanks a lot for the info, Bfr. I find I learn more from little snippets of information like this than from entire articles, precisely because before all this (the maidan etc) Ukraine was simply a name to me, remembered mostly in connection with skating.

What’s making smoke come out my ears, Bob, is the GOP and some in the media who hate PBO so much that they throw away any sense of unity in the country. Putin is crazy and thinks this is good for his propaganda. Meanwhile the doofuses here think it is all about president Obama.

Tell you all who Putin is reminding me of more and more: George W.! He too wanted a war, and look what he got for it. We were going to waltz in, overwhelm them with shock and awe, they would greet us with flowers….blah,blah, blah…..so he was stalled by an inferior force, the war drifted on and on, nobody wanted us there, people at home grew to detest him and Cheney, he ran up the debt, he didn’t supply the troops at the beginning…..

Putin is a poser like GWB. His shirtless horseback rides, the motorcycle…..think GWB landing on the aircraft carrier in his unearned flightsuit, wearing his too tight jeans with the big belt buckle at the gate of his “ranch”…..when he couldn’t ride a horse, had no cattle or wheat, only could cut brush…..When you see Putin put GWB’s face on him.

Of course, Putin is reckless too like GWB and Cheney, and also careless with other people’s lives. Putin is smarter than Bush, but not a strategic thinker. He is drunk with power, and wants more.

“My family and I are grateful for the efforts thus far of President Obama, who noted his concern regarding my father during his phone call with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani in September, as well as those of Secretary of State John F. Kerry and other officials now working on my father’s case. We have been encouraged by the diplomatic progress made by our two countries, and we are hopeful that continued discussions between officials in both governments can finally lead to my father’s homecoming.

My family, and more importantly my father, have suffered this unimaginable nightmare for far too long.

Lootenant. A thread or two ago you posted a picture of a carrier in-port in Turkey. Though it was someone else’s tweet, I question it a this particular point in time. Can you validate the date/time of the photo?

Dick Cheney who lied this country into a war with Iraq, costing over one Trillion dollars and the death of 4000 soldiers, who had no problem torturing people, said today on Face the Nation that there is no question Putin think Obama is weak.

You’re right and further Vladey Mae Poutin is likely intimidated and insecure putting his one note schtick up against what he knows is a brilliant adversary always a few steps ahead. By the way and goes without saying but FUCK that withered up ole SHITSANDWICH the dick-cheney that shamelessly dodged the draft yet unflinchingly sent young Americans by the tens of thousands to hideous deaths and maiming for personal gain. That evil crapbag has managed to remain breathing somehow and as I’ve said before I will projectile vomit if there’s a giant retelling of history and accolades for that lying, malicious sack-o-rectums when he finally kicks it.

One minute until the True Detective finale. Holy smokes….it’s going to be good. I still haven’t gotten over last week’s episode and still haven’t had a full night of sleep. That’s how freaking crazy the show is. That’s how much it gets under your skin and freaks you out.

I don’t see how you EVER get a full night’s sleep, Utal!!! You watch every show (or so it seems from your reports), keep us on our toes along with Chips, run rings around many on twitter, and, I assume, keep your own day running smoothly. You ‘scare’ me, girl! 😀

It ended perfectly. Breaking Bad and True Detective (season one) are the two recent shows I have seen that I have no qualms with how they wrapped.

Last week’s episode (episode 7) haunted me all week. The scene where the detectives drove away from the “Spaghetti Monster” guy and he spoke, chilled me. I couldn’t get a full night’s sleep and I say bravo to Nic Pizzollato the creator/writer/executive producer because he developed a show that gets under one’s skin and has you going “WHAT THE HECK WAS THAT?!?!”

Tonight’s episode was full of “OMG!!!” “NOOOOO” “LOOK OUT!!!” “WHY WON’T HE DIE?!?!”

I can’t wait for Season Two. The actors who are replacing Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson have their work cut out for them because they have set the bar high.

Satisfied. I loved that the relationship between Marty and Rust developed so fully.
And they got the monster. Not all the monsters, but one of them. And, earlier, when Rust broke in and took the tape from Tuttle, that led to Tuttles’ death. So two monsters down.

There were such giant expectations and coverage for this finale I am relieved that neither of us are disappointed.

“I loved that the relationship between Marty and Rust developed so fully.”

Same here, Vicki. Same here. The focus on the relationship made it unlike any other detective show. It celebrated their strengths, exposed their flaws and weaknesses, the falling out, the coming back together, and the threads of a weird but much needed friendship.

I really like this quotation, JO’B! All this time I’ve been buying into my friends’ lack of appreciation of my ‘powerful and original mind’ by accepting their analysis that I’m anti-social. Can’t wait to tell them they got it wrong. 😀

Yep. I finally have time here in retirementland to purposefully enjoy a little solitude … after a career that spanned 43 years where I had to think somebody else’s thoughts all day, not that I didn’t enjoy that, too!

There’s also plenty of time to be in touch with others. I thank my lucky stars every day, to be in this position!

I say go for it, vc, with your powerful and original mind! Oh, and, if you were anti-social, we wouldn’t be here having this very sociable online conversation. Ha!

Yes, yes, we saw this before, but tonight I’m looking at Jim Stuart’s analysis because, as we know, he always brings a little bit more to the discussion. {The ‘I am my brother’s keeper vid is included in the post}

//…………….
But I want to highlight something else: the tangible, visible-while-invisible connection he [PBO] establishes and demonstrates with Christian from BAM (Becoming A Man), and with all the boys/young men gathered behind him. Watch how the President listens to Christian’s introduction of him, making occasional gestures or expressions, but mostly holding himself quietly, so the attention wouldn’t shift from young Christian to him. Notice both of their movements and expressions when Christian tells the audience what the President had shared a year ago “in Circle” with the young men from BAM – that he had, in fact, goofed off from time to time in school. Notice the quiet dignity and diligence with which the President connects with each young man, including a touchingly long head-on-the-President’s-shoulder hug with one boy, before he leaves the room.

This is pure Presence – being right here, right now, and nowhere else, with a Beginner’s Mind and an Open Heart, focusing so completely that the small “s” self (the Ego, the Busy Mind) drops away, and Big Mind/Big Heart is what is there. The pure and utter Mastery of the Peaceful Warrior. Our President as Integral Leader.

No sweat, Df. By the time he resurfaces, he won’t feel like reading backwards so I’m safe. 😛 Plus, should he actually stumble upon it, I could always rhapsodize about the beauty of age and how I was being respectful and complimentary in *my* use of the word. Now if *you* had used it…. 😉 😉